3D Printed French Cleat Tool Holders: Ideas for a Shop Wall

3D printed French cleat tool holders work best for small, oddly shaped tools such as drill bits, chisels, screwdrivers and safety gear, while heavy items like long clamps belong on wood holders, according to Shop Ramblings, a woodworking YouTube channel whose French cleat wall mixes both (Shop Ramblings, “Why do I 3d Print some tool Holders for French Cleats”). Printed hangers can still hold more than you might expect: John Up North, a woodworking channel, said his printed cleat brackets hold a box of hand planes (John Up North, “3D Printed French Cleat That EVERY Woodworker Needs”).

Below are the holders creators have printed for their cleat walls, when to choose printing over wood, how cleat locks keep holders from lifting off, and filament tips. For pegboard instead, see my 3D printed pegboard guide.

3D Printed French Cleat Tool Holder Ideas

Prices from Amazon at time of writing. I may earn a commission from links, at no cost to you.

When to 3D Print a French Cleat Holder vs Build It in Wood

Shop Ramblings, whose owner has run shops for 30 to 35 years, explained his split (Shop Ramblings, “Why do I 3d Print some tool Holders for French Cleats”):

• Wood for weight. His 60-inch bar clamps, which he estimated at about 15 pounds each, hang on wood holders. Drills also go on wood, since a printed holder that big would need a huge printer.
• Print for repetition and precision. His drill bit racks hold 200 bits. Cutting stepped plywood and drilling every hole would be far harder; once designed, he can “hit click, print, walk away” and start another copy within 15 seconds.
• Print for labeling. Different filament colors and a label maker identify countersink and pilot bits by screw size.
• Go hybrid. He prints a small part and adds it to a wood cleat, for example for a spray gun.

He also said designing holders improved his skills in SketchUp and Fusion 360.

Creator Builds: Screwdrivers, Sanders and Chisels

Sketch Me To, a channel documenting a shop build, is designing a holder for every tool on its wall: a nine-screwdriver rack, a glove box holder that stacks or sits side by side, and a sander shelf. He tried vertical and horizontal sander layouts before settling on a shelf, glued it for now and is considering a snap-fit version (Sketch Me To, “8 3D Printed French Cleat Storage Ideas to Organize Your Workshop”).

Scott Walsh, a woodworking YouTuber, keeps most holders simple with hooks and dowels, but printed a chisel holder measured to each chisel and a sharpening stone holder whose sliding dovetail tightens stones with machine screws. The cleat lets it hang on the wall or clamp in a vise for sharpening (Scott Walsh, “They’re Wrong About French Cleats”).

John Up North designed cleat hangers in Tinkercad and screwed them to walnut boards to make shelves. In his view, if things fall off a cleat wall, you have too much on it (John Up North, “3D Printed French Cleat That EVERY Woodworker Needs”).

French Cleat Locks: Keep Holders on the Wall

CyberBob City, a workshop channel, designed a swiveling cleat lock: a rectangular block with one rounded corner, screwed to the back of a holder below the cleat (CyberBob City, “The UNIQUE French Cleat Lock That Swivels”). Details from his video:

• He printed it on a Prusa Mini at 0.2 mm layer height with no supports.
• The single rounded corner lets it swivel into place but not past the locked position.
• Mount it with a #6, 3/4-inch screw just snug enough to turn with a finger.
• It needs 2.25 inches of clearance beneath the cleat on the holder.
• Keep an offcut of your wall cleat as a template for positioning.

Printed French Cleats vs Wood Cleats

Walsh noted cleats are usually ripped at 45 degrees, and he spaced his wall strips off the wall with biscuits so dust falls through instead of collecting in the crevice (Scott Walsh, “They’re Wrong About French Cleats”). Match your printed cleat angle to the strips on your wall.

Tips for Strong 3D Printed French Cleats

• Print the cleat with the 45-degree face oriented so layer lines don’t run across the hook.
• Use PETG and four or more walls for loaded holders.
• Add a screw or a cleat lock for anything heavy or often grabbed.
• Keep very heavy tools on wood holders, as Shop Ramblings does.

Best Printers for French Cleat Holders

Video: Shop Ramblings, “Why do I 3d Print some tool Holders for French Cleats”. Embedded with credit; the findings are the creator’s own.

Video: CyberBob City, “The UNIQUE French Cleat Lock That Swivels”.

3D Printed French Cleat: Frequently Asked Questions

Are 3D printed French cleat holders strong enough?

For hand tools and light items, yes, especially in PETG with thick walls. Shop Ramblings keeps heavy clamps and drills on wood.

What angle is a French cleat?

Usually 45 degrees. Match your printed cleat to the strips on your wall.

What is a French cleat lock?

A small part that stops a holder lifting off when you grab a tool. CyberBob City’s swivels into place and needs 2.25 inches below the cleat.

Can I mix 3D printed holders with wood cleats?

Yes. That is the most common setup, and some makers attach printed parts to wood holders.

What should I 3D print for a French cleat wall?

Drill bit racks, screwdriver racks, chisel holders and safety-gear holders are popular picks.

Sources

• Shop Ramblings, “Why do I 3d Print some tool Holders for French Cleats”
• Sketch Me To, “8 3D Printed French Cleat Storage Ideas to Organize Your Workshop”
• John Up North, “3D Printed French Cleat That EVERY Woodworker Needs”
• CyberBob City, “The UNIQUE French Cleat Lock That Swivels”
• Scott Walsh, “They’re Wrong About French Cleats”
• Amazon product listings for the printers linked above, October 16, 2026

Related: 3D Prints for Garage Organization | 3D Printed Pegboard Accessories | Gridfinity for Beginners | PLA vs PETG for Beginners